I'm not surprised by that...everyone knows Rivera is in a make or break year. The fact that no one wanted to come and rot in Carolina for one year is pretty self-explanatory. Hell we could see some of the same names surface next year when (but hopefully if) the entire coaching staff gets replaced.

...Riv is really handicapped at being able to get descent coaches...the odds are really stacked against him....

This is precisely why these ultimatum years are a bad idea. Nobody thinks you have a chance, except for the existing staff that has their own asses in the sling. So, we end up get what's left after Chud picked over this staff and we are supposed to make the playoffs with whats left. Perhaps 9-7 isn't too far fetched, not that it will be enough to save his job.

This is precisely why these ultimatum years are a bad idea. Nobody thinks you have a chance, except for the existing staff that has their own asses in the sling. So, we end up get what's left after Chud picked over this staff and we are supposed to make the playoffs with whats left. Perhaps 9-7 isn't too far fetched, not that it will be enough to save his job.

agreed.

i can understand giving him another year to prove himself, but it really makes a bad situation worse or at least more difficult.

it can pay off, but the odds, which were stacked in your favor, are much greater. there is no room for error at all. people without any options hang on for dear life while those with options understandably bail not wanting to go down with what is very likely a sinking ship.

This shouldn't surprise anyone; we all know that RR is basically in a lame duck situation.

Nah. If we make the playoffs Rivera will be retained, and with good reason. Our 2010 team was the worst of teams that been given the number 1 pick recently. This year's KC and last year's Colts would have had a field day with our 2010 team. If in year 3 he makes the playoffs then he's done everything expected of him and more. 3 years is the standard of expectations with coaches and QBs, and is a much faster rebuilding process than most teams deal with (see Oakland, St Louis, Arizona, etc). He'd have shown progression every year and built a playoff team.

This is precisely why these ultimatum years are a bad idea. Nobody thinks you have a chance, except for the existing staff that has their own asses in the sling. So, we end up get what's left after Chud picked over this staff and we are supposed to make the playoffs with whats left. Perhaps 9-7 isn't too far fetched, not that it will be enough to save his job.

Well if the players busted their tails at the end of last year to keep Rivera, they'll do it again all next year and make up for the lack of exceptional positional coaches. We were a young team learning, but in year 3 these guys know what it takes to win and don't need their hands held to do it.

I don't think JR is a cheap owner, he is just cheap...at first but his spending isn't an issue to me. I also think keeping Rivera was the wrong move for this very reason. Gettleman wants his own coaching staff. But the simple reason I can't stand JR is he fails to put the right poeple in place and is now failing at letting Gettleman do his job properly. JR is a meddling owner, maybe not as outright as some but I find it extremeley hard to believe Gettleman wants Rivera and co. as his coaching staff. Why give them another year? Too see if he can do it? To keep stability, stability in what exactly? How is offering one year contracts to work with Rivera and hiring within out of no choice a sign of stability? I understand the one year contracts totally, it would be stupid to give a coach a longer contract when this is a make or break year for Rivera and the FO not having any faith in him. My thing is I think I have seen all I need to of Rivera, and I feel the norm of this FO holding on too long will once again take place. JR is failing at putting this team in a position to win.